Portable dark chamber for photographic purposes.



No. 732,086. PATENTED JUNE 30, 1!?03.

J. LAMBERT. I

PORTABLE DARK CHAMBER FOR PHOTOGRAPHIG PURPO$ES.

APPLICATION rmm SEPT. 24. 1902.

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PATENT ED JUNE 30, 1903.

J. LAMBERT. PORTABLE DARK CHAMBER FOR PHOTOGRAPHIG PURPOSES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 24, 1902.

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PATENTED JUNE 30, 1903.

J. LAMBERT. PORTABLE DARK CHAMBER FOR PHOTOGRAPHIG PURPOSES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 24, 1902.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

N0 MODEL.

J.Lambett UNITED STATES Patented June 30, 1903.

PATENT O FICE.

JOSEPH LAMBERT, OF SOUTHPORT, ENGLAND.

PORTABLE DARK CHAMBER FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PURPOSES.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 732,086, dated June 30, 1903.

Application filed September 24,1902. Serial No. 124,643. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH LAMBERT, traveler, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Southport, in the county of Lancaster, England, (whose full postal address is Dalmeny, 9 Westmoreland road,Southport,

. aforesaid,) have invented certain new and useful Improvements in and Connected with Portable Dark Chambers for Photographic Purposes, (for which application has been made in Great Britain, No. 13,189, dated June 10, 1902,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object a portable closed dark chamber for photographic purposes.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a general view of my photographic chamber; Fig. 2, a cross-section. Fig. 3 is a general view of the developing-dish; Fig. 4, a longitudinal section.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, A is a wooden box in the top of which is inserted a ruby glass B and yellow glass 0, (non-actinic,) and the front of which box is left open at D. A shelf E is provided a little way above the bottom. The open front is provided with a pair of guides side by side to receive the sash F and closed shutter G, (see dotted lines, Fig. 2,) which are adapted to slide therein and are provided with tongues on each side, for which purpose they fit neatly in said sides. To the open frame or sash F one end of flexible light-tight sleeve-tubes H are attached, and at the opposite end each of these sleeves or tubes have an elastic opening I to admit the hand and arm of the operator be-' ing passed through and so bind around the operators coat-sleeve, so as to form a close protection against light entering. Inside the sleeve there is an extra pair of sleeves J, opening the reverse way, with an opening K large enough to admit the hand passing through and which fits pretty closely to the wrist, forming a still further protection against the admission of light. The front of the chamber is thus entirely closed, but access can be had to the interior of the chamber by thrusting the arms through the sleeves H, which may be accordion-plaited, if desired, so as to be compressible or extensible, and in this way the operators hand can gain admission to the interior of the chamber without any light.

The frame or sash F is inserted in its respective grooves, with the sleeves II projecting outward. The hands and arms of the operator are then inserted through the respective sleeves H, leaving the hands absolutely free to manipulate within the chamber, which is absolutely light-tight. In the back of the box is inserted a piece of ruby glass L, over which a cover M, which may be changed to a yellow one when needed, is placed, and in operation it is intended that this hinged cover M can open out at a right angle, forming a shelf on which a lighted candle or other illuminant can be placed outside, facing the sheet of glass, so as to throw a red light upon the operations in the box. 011 the shelf E and at the back of the inside of the chamber are fixed clips N to hold measures 0, containing the divers solutions. One may contain proportions of reducer and accelerator,while'another might contain a quantity of reducer and another a quantity of accelerator, so as to enable the operator to strengthen the developers as required. On this shelf E is placed the tray for developing in and in the bottom P of the chamber a tray for containing the fixing solution.

The developing apparatus, Figs. 3 and 4, is made as follows: A reflecting-plate 2 is provided having a pillar 8 at each corner, witha curved overlip or lug at the top. The developing-tray 5 is adapted to be held in these lips 4 and is pressed up by a spring 6 at each corner. The tray 5 is of transparent material or has a transparent bottom to it, so that light reflected upward by the mirror or reflecting-plate 2 is thrown through the bottom of the tray and through the plate therein. W'hen a plate is being developed, the tray 5 can be rocked by a slight pressure on the edge thereof, the springs 6 always returning the tray 5 to its horizontal position. The side of the tray has a nozzle 8 at one point, which may be connected to a pipe, such as V, which passes through the box A and may be arranged to discharge into a pail W or other receptacle. This pipe is preferably flexible, so that it may remain connected to the tray during development or for washing purposes after development. The nozzle 8 may either have a tap therein or the hole leading to the pipe may be arranged above the liquid-level, so that the tray hasto be tilted farther than is usual in developing for the solution to be discharged.

A small cistern Q is preferably provided outside the box, having a pipe R leading therefrom into the box A, the pipe having a tap r thereon. After the tray has been emptied of its developing or fixing solution the plate may be washed therein by flooding it with water drawn from the tap R.

In actual operation a packet of undeveloped plates or films is placed on the top shelf E and with it the double back or dark slide or magazine camera which it is required to fill. The frame or sash F and its sleeves H are then slipped into the grooves in the box, the hands and arms inserted into the sleeves H, so that the hands will project into the inside of the chamber, where they can manipulate the plates, while the eyes of the operator on the outside can see through the ruby glass B through the top of the chamber and the ruby glass L at the back of the box. The operator can thus see to open the packet of plates, and two of them are placed in the double back or dark slide in the usual manner. The dark slide can. then be removed from the chamber and exposed in the camera. The operator places the usual developing solution in the measures 0 inside the chamber.

, The developing-tray is inserted and the pipes connected, the fixing solution is placed in the tray that lies in the bottom P, and when the slide containing the exposed plates is put into the box on the shelf E and all being in readiness the chamber is made light-tight, as before. The operator looks through the ruby glass B, inserted in the top of the box, removes one of the exposed plates from its slide, places it in the developing-tray, pours his developer over it, and rocks the tray, as before described, until the plate is sufficiently dense. The developing of the picture can be well watched, owing to the light which is reflected through the tray and the plate by the mirror 2, so that there isno need for it to be lifted out of the bath until the process is complete. When ready for fixing, he takes the plate from the developing-tray and places it in the fixing solution in the bottom tray and then proceeds with the second plate. When the two are fixed, (hence the necessity of having a fixing-bath of sufficient size to hold two plates,) the front F of the chamber is raised and the plates washed, &c., and the operation is complete. For traveling purposes a hinged cover S is provided, and this cover can be used as a screen from the direct'rays of strong sunlight. The measures, trays, and

all accessories can be of unbreakable material, such as celluloid, so as to prevent breakage while traveling, and the hypo-tray that goes in P when in use is held in position when not in use by grooves T and the developingtray in clips U. These trays when in this position protect the ruby glasses for traveling purposes. The ruby glass B can be changed to a yellow one C, and the ruby glass L to a a yellow one also in case the operation of developing prints on bromide or other developing-papers is desired.

Vis an overflow or drain for pouring away or emptying the waste developer; W, abucket into which this pipe drains.

X is a small ruby pane inserted in the fabric H.

For convenience in traveling the chemicals necessary for developing, fixing, toning, &c., are arranged to be carried in tablet or tabloid or other compressed condition, and a space is reserved in the box for that purpose. Space is also provided for packing the camera, the dark slides, the unexposed plates-in fact, every possible accessory for a long tour is provided,including everything necessary, (except water.) Then not in use, the sleeves H are compressed and the shutter Ginserted and closed down. Also, the lid S is closed and the cover M, so as to protect all the parts from injury.

I declare that what I claim is- 1. In portable dark chambers for photographic purposes,the combination of a wooden box, removable colored panes at top, removable open frames in front flexible light-tight sleeve-tubes to receive the hand and arm of the operator fitted thereto, a colored pane at rear of box, a hinged cover for the same adapted to open outward when required to form a shelf, and a shelf near the bottom of the box inside to support the developing-dish.

2. The combination with a portable dark chamber for photographic purposes, of a developing apparatus comprising a reflectingplate or mirror, a developing-tray of transparent material above said mirror, and pillars at each corner for supporting the tray at a suitable distance above the mirror, whereby light reflected upward by the mirror is thrown through the bottom of the tray, and through the photographic plate therein.

3. The combination with a portable dark chamber for photographic purposes, of a developing apparatus comprising a reflecting plate or mirror having a pillar at each corner with a curved overlip or lug at the top, a developing-tray of transparent material adapted to be held under those lips, and springs adapted to press up the tray at each corner, whereby when a plate is being developed, the plate can be rocked by a slight pressure on the edge thereof, the springs always returning the tray to its horizontal position.

4. In a portable dark chamber for photo- ICC graphic purposes, the combination of a box of suitable shape and size, removable colored panes at top thereof, a colored pane at rear of box, clips and'grooved pieces in proximity to the said panes on the inside of the box, so arranged as to hold the trays when not in use over the colored panes and prevent them getting broken during transit.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name, this 6th day of August, 1902, in the 10 presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

JOSEPH LAMBERT.

Witnesses:

I-I. MAYKELS, WM. 0. BROWN. 

